POLITICIANS are a bit pointless aren’t they? Well, that’s what people often say.

“They’re all useless” or “they’re all the same” or “they don’t actually DO anything” are the claims normally levelled at them.

Sometimes – although not always – they deserve criticism.

They are people. So that means we see a depressing amount of human weakness on display from those who serve all parties.

In the last few weeks alone, we’ve had an MP arrested, an MP sentenced for brawling and an MP caught out promising to introduce people to his high-powered mates in return for donations.

These misdemeanours are inevitably damaging to the profession as a whole but most would surely agree even the occasional criminal or unsavoury act is preferable to the over-riding claim of pointlessness?

So I’m not sure politicians have done themselves any favours by deciding to throw their weight behind a plan to have Big Ben renamed.

For those who haven’t heard about it, MPs have suggested renaming the tower that houses the bell as Elizabeth Tower in honour of the Queen’s jubilee.

The move has generated attentiongrabbing headlines because on the surface renaming such an iconic building seems a bold move.

Of course, it is anything but because, as most of us know but forget until reminded, Big Ben is not officially called Big Ben. The tower itself is called the Clock Tower.

So it is merely the official name (a question I suspect most people would struggle to answer in a pub quiz) that would be changed.

Thus ensuring that everyone can – and will – continue to call the tower Big Ben.

What an utter waste of time.

The justification seems to be that another Westminster tower was renamed the Victoria Tower to commemorate the long reign of another queen.

A nice, neat fit. But did you know the tower was called the Victoria Tower before now? And could you point out which one it is? No, me neither.

So I cannot see any point whatsoever for this move. To say it is in name only is the understatement of the year.

Mind you, perhaps that is the point?

These days most of the Queen’s powers are also in name only – little more than a rubber stamp – so in that sense I suppose it is a fitting tribute.

I’m not sure that was the point though.

If there was one?